The U.S. FCC plans to expand its ban: prohibiting the import of electronic devices approved for several Chinese companies

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission Proposes Expanding the Ban on Importing Chinese Electronic Devices

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed on Friday to ban the import of equipment from a group of Chinese manufacturers. Previously, the FCC had already prohibited approval for new devices produced by these manufacturers in 2022. This marks the latest move by Washington to restrict Chinese-made electronic devices.

In 2021, the FCC added telecommunications and video surveillance equipment made by Huawei, ZTE, Hainan Dahua, Hikvision, and Hangzhou Uniview to its "covered list," which identifies companies posing threats to U.S. national security. In November 2022, the FCC decided not to approve imports or sales of new models from these Chinese companies.

On Friday, the FCC stated it is seeking public comments on whether to prohibit continued imports of equipment from listed Chinese firms—equipment that was approved for sale in the United States prior to the 2022 ban.

The FCC noted that its preliminary conclusion is that “prohibiting further imports and marketing of previously approved equipment is necessary to maintain national security by reducing risks facing the U.S. communications sector.” Neither China’s embassy in the U.S. nor Hikvision responded immediately.

The FCC said the proposal would allow U.S. citizens to continue using communication devices they have already purchased. The regulatory body stated that once the final ban is issued, imports could be prohibited to “avoid a rush to buy new devices.”

The FCC has taken a series of measures targeting Chinese tech products, including banning all new Chinese drones from importation in December last year. Last week, the FCC also prohibited the import of new consumer-grade routers manufactured in China—devices capable of connecting computers, smartphones, and smart gadgets to the internet.

Last October, the FCC voted 3 to 0 to block approvals for devices containing components from companies on its “covered list,” and authorized the agency to prohibit previously approved devices under certain circumstances.

Hikvision filed a lawsuit in December last year challenging the FCC’s October decision, claiming overreach and alleging that the agency was attempting to retroactively terminate lawful authorizations “without sufficient legal basis or evidence.”

In February 2025, a U.S. appellate court dismissed Hikvision’s request to lift the FCC’s 2022 ban on approvals for its new video surveillance and communication devices.

Previously, the FCC had banned certain Chinese companies from providing telecom services in the U.S. on national security grounds, and recently revoked recognition of testing laboratories owned or controlled by the Chinese government.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1861466036984832/

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